Vasimir Powered To Spaceflight Levels

Ad Astra Rocket Company has powered the first stage of its experimental Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (Vasimir) to spaceflight levels using a superconducting magnet to contain its superhot plasma.

Tests in Houston used a low-temperature superconducting magnet manufactured by Scientific Magnetics of the U.K. Designed for a nominal operating temperature of minus 268 degrees C., the unit boosted the magnetic field in the company's VX-200i test rig tenfold over that delivered by a temporary water-cooled magnet, permitting the full-power test of the rocket's first stage.

The first-stage test coverted more than 30 kilowatts of radio frequency energy to create the plasma. A second test series is set to begin July 14 to bring the rocket's second stage into operation, adding as much as 170 kilowatts to the engine's overall power output.

The Vasimir engine is intended to provide extremely high fuel efficiency for in-space propulsion by using magnetic fields to hold and steer high temperature, high velocity plasmas. Ad Astra has a Space Act agreement with NASA to test a 200 kilowatt version of its engine on the International Space Station as early as 2012 (Aerospace DAILY, Dec. 17, 2008).

Vasimir rocket test photo: NASA